Share This Story!

Recipient of Tenn. lawmaker's tweet? His daughter

WASHINGTON--When a congressman sends—and quickly deletes—a tweet sent to a younger woman stating 'ilu' for "I love you" it sounds like the beginning of the next Washington scandal. Not for Rep. Steve Cohen,

Recipient of Tenn. lawmaker's tweet? His daughter

WASHINGTON--When a congressman sends — and quickly deletes — a tweet sent to a younger woman stating 'ilu' for "I love you" it sounds like the beginning of the next Washington scandal.

Not for Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.

The lawmaker sent such a tweet to Victoria Brink, a 24-year-old young woman during President Obama's State of the Union Address, but he has since revealed that the woman is his daughter.

"When she let me know she was watching the State of the Union address I was thrilled that she wanted Steve Cohen to be part of her. I had such joy, that I couldn't hold back from tweeting her," Cohen explained to NBC.

Cohen, who is not married and has no other children, said he only found out about Brink three years ago, but they have since formed a close relationship. He told NBC he is "proud to be her dad" and noted that the took her to the White House Christmas party.

"I want her to see my world and be a part of it," he said.

The revelation was a disappointment for Tennessee's Republican Party, who dubbed Cohen "the Anthony Weiner of the South" before he clarified the woman's identity.